Piper PA-30 accident near Sarasota, Florida, February 23, 1984
On February 23, 1984 at about 8:51 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N710SC, was destroyed in an accident near Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota-Bradton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1984 · about 8:51 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · Sarasota-Bradton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N710SC · registry record · serial 30-1358
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT ENTERED A DESCENDING LEFT TURN, STRUCK A WIRE, A CAR, AND A TREE BEFORE CONTACTING A BUILDING AND EXPLODING. A PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE STALL WARNING HORN HAD ACTIVATED AT LEAST TWICE DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB PRIOR TO THE ACFT ENTERING THE LEFT DESCENDING TURN. WITHIN SECONDS AFTER CONTACTING THE BUILDING THE ACFT EXPLODED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS APRX 3600 FT OF USABLE RWY AVAILABLE AT THE POINT OF THE INTERSECTION TAKEOFF WHICH WAS REQUESTED BY THE PLT. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATE THE ACFT WAS APRX 172 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,645 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,821 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 1983; 286 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: SGJ St.Augustine FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 7,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from PIE, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.